Explosive device and container

ABSTRACT

An explosive device is formed by an elongated, tapered tube closed at the smaller diameter end. A carrying handle is formed on the closed end. The interior of the tube is filled with an explosive material, such as a mixture of ammonium nitrate and a liquid hydrocarbon. A cap is sealed across the larger diameter end of the tube.

its States m1 Thomas [451 July 18, 1972 [54] EXPLOSIVE DEVICE CONT 1 13,013,490 12/1961 Flatau 102/71 3,395,642 8/1968 Foster et al. 102/24[72] Invent imam 11mm Bmlesv'ue' Okla 3,431,848 3/1969 Foster ..102/24[73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company Primary Examiner-Verlin R.Pendegrass 22 F1 d. N .20 1970 I 1 l 6 0V Attorney-Young & Quigg [21]Appl. No.: 91,274

ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. "102/24 R An explosive device is formed by anelongated, tapered tube [51] Cl 3/00 closed at the smaller diameter end.A carrying handle is of Search R formed on the closed end Theinteriotofthe tube is with 56 R f Cited an explosive material, such as amixture of ammonium nitrate I l e erences and a liquid hydrocarbon. Acap is sealed across the larger UNITED STATES PATENTS diameter end ofthe tube.

2,590,671 3/1962 Baker 102/24 R 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 \J i 1 17161 4 15 I |4- gm Patented July 18, 1972 w. E. THOMAS R O m E V m WWW A7' TOEWEYS EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AND CONTAINER In recent years extensive usehas been made of explosives formed by mixing ammonium nitrate withliquid hydrocarbons, such as fuel oil. This material is considerablyless expensive than traditional explosives: dynamite, nitroglycerine andTNT. It is also much safer to handle and store. Since the ammoniumnitrate is usually employed in the form of small prills, a need existsfor suitable containers to package the material for storage,transportation and positioning the charge in the region that the chargeis to be detonated. For applications such a seismic exploration,elongated tubes of relatively small diameter have been used to packagethe explosive and lower the package into a shot hole. For blastingoperations which require relatively large charges, various types of bagsand other flexible packages have been employed. In blasting operationswhich are conducted in moist areas, it is necessary to supply acontainer which is waterproof.

The present invention is directed toward providing an improved containerand .explosive device which is particularly suitable for use withammonium nitrate containing explosives. The container is formed from anelongated tapered tube which is provided with a carrying handle at thesmaller diameter end. The tube can advantageously be formed of athermoplastic material, such as polyethylene. The tapered configurationpermits a plurality of tubes to be nested for transportation andstorage. After the tube is filled with explosive material, a cap issealed to the larger diameter end, such as by fusion of thethermoplastic materials employed to form the container and cap. Thisprovides a watertight explosive package.

In the accompanying drawing,

FIG. 1 is a view, shown partially in section, of the explosive device ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the handle formed on the end of the tube.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to FIG. 1 in particular,there is shown an elongated tube which is closed at afirst end 11 andwhich has an integral carrying handle 12 formed thereon. Tube 10 is ofgenerally circular cross-section along its length and is provided with aslight taper so that a plurality of empty tubes can be nested. Aplurality of longitudinally extending ribs 13 are formed on the outersurface of the tube. These ribs serve to strengthen the tube and tofacilitate removal of individual tubes from a nested stack.

Tube 10 initially is open at the second end 14. However, end 14 isprovided with an outwardly flared shoulder 15 which is adapted toreceive a cup-shaped cap 16.

In order to convert the container into an explosive device, the interiorof tube 10 is filled with an explosive 17, such as a mixture of ammoniumnitrate and liquid hydrocarbon. A conventional fuel oil can be employedto advantage for this purpose. Cap 16 is then inserted into the secondend of the tube and is sealed to the tube to form a liquid-tightcontainer. This sealing can be accomplished by applying a heatingelement to the ends of tube 10 and cap 16 to provide a fused area 18.Tube 10 is advantageously formed of a thermoplastic material such aspolyethylene, and can be formed by conventional blow molding procedures.Cap 16 is formed of a suitable thermoplastic material, such aspolyethylene, which can be sealed to tube 10 by the application of heat.Handle 12 permits the filled container to be carried to the region ofusage.

in one specific embodiment of this invention, tube 10 was formed ofpolyethylene and had an overall length of approximately 30 inches. Theouter diameter of end 14 was approximately 8% inches, and the outerdiameter of end [1 was approximately 7% inches. Twelve ribs 13 wereformed on the outer surface of the tube. Each rib was approximatelyoneeighth inch wide and extended above the surface of the tubeapproximately one-sixteenth inch. A container of this size is capable ofholding approximately 50 pounds of ammonium nitrate-fuel oil explosivemixture. Any suitable detonator can be secured to the outer surface ofthe container, either on the side or on the end.

While this invention has been described in COlljllllCtlOll with apresently preferred embodiment, it should be evident that it is notlimited thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An explosive device comprising:

a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end andwhich is tapered along its length with said one end being of smallercross-sectional area than said other end so that the tube can be nestedwith another tube of like configuration prior to being formed into theexplosive device, said tube being provided with means to facilitateseparation from another tube with which said tube is nested, said meanscomprising a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally alongsubstantially the entire length of the tube in spaced relationship withone another, said ribs being positioned on the external surface of thetube and extending outwardly therefrom;

a carrying handle formed at said one end of said tube;

a mass of explosive material disposed in said tube; and

a cap sealed across said second end of said tube to seal the explosivematerial within the tube.

2. The explosive device of claim 1 wherein said handle is integrallyformed in said first end of said tube.

3. The explosive device of claim 1 wherein said tube and cap are formedof thermoplastic material and the cap is heat sealed to said second endof the tube to form a watertight container.

4. The explosive device of claim 3 wherein said explosive material is amixture of ammonium nitrate and a liquid hydrocarbon.

5. A container adapted to be used in forming an explosive device, saidcontainer comprising a hollow tube which is closed at one end and openat the other end, said tube having a handle formed at said one end, saidtube being tapered along its length with said one end being of smallercross-sectional area than said other end so that the tube can be nestedwith another tube of like configuration prior to being formed into anexplosive device and, said tube being provided with means to facilitateseparation from another tube with which said tube is nested, said meanscomprising a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally alongsubstantially the entire length of the tube in spaced relationship withone another, said ribs being positioned on the external surface of thetube and extending outwardly therefrom.

k l i

2. The explosive device of claim 1 wherein said handle is integrallyformed in said first end of said tube.
 3. The explosive device of claim1 wherein said tube and cap are formed of thermoplastic material and thecap is heat sealed to said second end of the tube to form a watertightcontainer.
 4. The explosive device of claim 3 wherein said explosivematerial is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and a liquid hydrocarbon.
 5. Acontainer adapted to be used in forming an explosive device, saidcontainer comprising a hollow tube which is closed at one end and openat the other end, said tube having a handle formed at said one end, saidtube being tapered along its length with said one end being of smallercross-sectional area than said other end so that the tube can be nestedwith another tube of like configuration prior to being formed into anexplosive device and, said tube being provided with means to facilitateseparation from another tube with which said tube is nested, said meanscomprising a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally alongsubstantially the entire length of the tube in spaced relationship withone another, said ribs being positioned on the external surface of thetube and extending outwardly therefrom.